De-centralization of the BBC

[Ric.ror]

What are your thoughts on this? It would appear the Mark Thompson believes the BBC become less London centric (I know what I mean). As a northerner I of course agree with him

[Gromit]

As I live in Manchester and my city will be a major beneficiary of the idea, i should be supportive of this idea. However, I don't think there is much wrong with the structure as it is. The BBC has many devolved centres throughout Britain. I think it makes sense for news programming to be based in the capital, so am a bit baffled as to why Radio Five Live should be Manchester based. I think the regional voice is already heard without any changes.

If they idea is to save money on salaries for BBC workers to work and live more cheaply out side of London, then that is about the only advantage I can see.

[Ric.ror]

I am sorry I have to disagree. I believe the London bias the BBC has shown since its inception is now out of date. By becoming less-centralised the BBC will be able to reflect the whole diverse needs for all the communities and, hopefully this will lead to a more richer and varied programming schedule. It may also improve the quality of regional programming, to be honest it needs it. Do you really think Eastenders, My Family et el would still be made if regional diversty was stronger in the Beebs hierarchy. Why does it make sense for News to be baised in London. Please do not think that because it is the home to HoP it should be there - most MP's represent const. outside London, perhaps its a case for more de-centralization in othere areas too!

[Gromit]

I'm afraid I cannot detect much London bias, let alone enough for me to be bothered about. I can think of many reasons EastEnders should be pulled immediately, but being set in London is not one of them.

I can see plenty of London bias in national newspapers, but that is because they offer a lot more opinion and comment. Fed up with Ken Livingstone/congestion charging stories especially.

Now the main Weather Reports, they always seem to have a south east bias, but there is usually a regional forecast one preceding it.

[Ric.ror]

I have had lunch now so perhaps I can explain myself a little better. I believe that by expanding into the regions the BBC will be able to strengthen its diversty. Lets be honest for the most part it plays too safe - hence my reference to EE and My Family. In a stronger programme with competion from the regions would shows of this quality still be made. You can say what you like about Big Brother - and I don't watch it - but the basic idea was ground breaking and has be copied to a ridiculous degree now. to further back up my claim I will say one more thing - How do you solve a problem like Maria. I think that perhaps sums it up.

[Gromit]

Yeah, that Graham Norton's cockney accent is so jarring.

[joko]

you hit the nail on the head gromit - graham norton has to live in london now - as do most people who want to work for the BBC - thats the problem.

[Gromit]

Don't see how the Marie rubbish would be more diverse if it was made in Belfast or Cardiff. If Norton was barred from presenting because he didn't come from London then I would agree there was a bias. A show about a part in a London Stage Production being done from a London Stage seems natural enough.

The BBC has always had specialisms outside London. Think of wildlife and natural history and BBC Bristol will probably have made it. Shows like 'Mastermind', 'A Question of Sport' and 'Dragons' Den' are made in Manchester, are they more diverse for that?

Not to mention the BBC has the majority of it's programmes made by Independent Production Companies who can be anywhere they please.

ITVs original set-up was regionalised franchises. They cr@p. I don't think the BBC is broken so I don't see the point in trying to fix it.

[joko]

I have worked at the BBC in london and will welcome the opportunity to work them in the north - where I choose to live.

fews BBC dramas and live shows are made out of london, there are some, but these are leapt upon by everyone in the area wanting the work - and i have even known of them bringing londoners down to do the work - because as they say its not what you know, its who you know.

there is a general consensus in the industry that to get anywhere you must move to london - only a limited amount of people get anywhere out of london.

this is not just said of the bbc but the whole of the entertainment industry and i think the fact that bbc have realised that talent is countrywide not just londonwide is a great start.

[Gromit]

The regions will always play second fiddle to London even after the changes. Smacks of tokenism. The big policy decisions will always been made in the capital. The top brass will always be based there. The BBC is a prized national asset (Something about Maria excepted), it would be a shame to see it weaken by geographical correctness meddling.

[Ric.ror]

My point about the Maria programme was would it have been made if the BBC was not in London. What possible intrest would it be to people in the North who may have watched because they had nothing else worth watching (Gods way of telling you to read a book I think). But before we get too complacent about the North being Manchester area etc, lets remember that Manchester is approx the Midlands if you include Scotland

[littleoldme]

Now the main Weather Reports, they always seem to have a south east bias

I hardly think you can blame the BBC for us getting warmer temperatures than you do. ;-)

[reinganum]

I think Ric.ror may be mistaken in thinking this bias has existed since the start of the BBC. In the early days, and probably until at least the 1960s, the BBC always had a very strong regional identity. The London bias has grown since television became the main output, simply because the cost of TV production is greatly more than radio.

However what has tended to happen is that first the smaller outlying studios close, then the regional facilities are closed or downgraded (a much better example is what happened with ITV where there used to be over a dozen companies, now only 2 or 3).

[Ric.ror]

I caught the very end of a discussion on Devolution on BBC parliment the other night when a chap from a group (Decon Blue?) said how refreshing he found the news when touring in Ireland because it lacked the London bias